Dialysis Services at Guthrie

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have kidney failure, why do I still make urine?

The kidney serves many functions. The filtering system may be unable to remove waste products yet still be able to remove fluids. If there comes a time when your kidneys also stop putting out fluids, the fluids then build up in the body's tissues, causing puffiness and/or shortness of breath, chest pain and high blood pressure. Fluid, salt, phosphorous and potassium restrictions should be strictly followed to ensure less chance of further complications.

Can I get transportation to my dialysis sessions?

Select counties offer transportation for dialysis patients and others to and from medical appointments. In Pennsylvania, Bradford, Sullivan and Tioga counties rely on the Endless Mountain Transportation Authority (EMTA). EMTA can provide enrolled residents of these counties with no-cost transportation during the week (Monday through Friday) within their hours of operation (typically 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Additionally, people who receive Medical Assistance cards can be eligible for reimbursement for travel to medical appointments when driving themselves.

In New York, Tioga county is served by an organization similar to EMTA, called T-tran. These services are provided on a low fee, per trip basis. Patients who receive New York State Medicaid may be eligible to have T-tran services at no cost. Any New York State Medicaid patient may receive reimbursement for providing his/her own transportation.

Should I carry some type of medical ID that says I’m on dialysis?

It is a good idea to carry some type of emergency medical information. There are bracelets and necklaces available for a nominal fee which list medical problems and contact phone numbers. They are available through pharmacies or through Medic Alert, PO Box 1009, Turlock, CA, 95380.

What are some common complications of hemodialysis?

As with any procedure, there are always the possibilities of risks and complications. Some of the most common complications of hemodialysis are nausea/vomiting, low blood pressure, muscle cramping, dizziness, bleeding from needle sites and infection. If complications arise, your health care team works together to take care of these situations immediately.

What types of blood tests will I have done while a dialysis patient?

Listed below are the blood chemistries that will be measured each month while you are on dialysis. Normal values are listed along with accepted values for dialysis patients. Also listed are causes for abnormal values. These are included so that if you have an abnormal value beyond what is expected for someone on dialysis, you can look to see what may be the cause. This chart is to be used as a guideline to help you better understand your blood work.

Blood Chemical	Normal Values	Accepted Values for Dialysis Patient	Causes of abnormal Levels (increased level unless otherwise noted)
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN	10-20 mg/dl	Less than 100-depends on protein intake	Eating too much protein-containing food. May indicate need for more dialysis.
Sodium (Na)	135-145 mEq/L	Same	Eating too much salt.
Potassium (K+)	3.5-5.0 mEq/L	Same	Eating too many foods high in potassium.
Chloride (CI)	101-109 mEq/L	Same	Same as sodium.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)	24-32 mEq/L	Not less than 15-16	Eating too much protein.
Glucose	80-130 mg/dl	Same	Diabetes, persistently elevated BUN. Will be slightly higher within 1-3 hours after eating.
Creatinine	0.7-1.4 mg/dl	10-20 varies with muscle mass-should remain about the same for individual	Inadequate dialysis time or addition of muscle.
Hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA)(HBV) (HCV)	Negative	Negative	Presence of HAA indicates acute or chronic hepatitis or a carrier of the virus.
Inorganic Phosphorus	2.5-4.5 mg/dl	Same	High- not taking phosphate binders, eating high phosphorus foods. Low - taking too much phosphate binders.
Calcium (Ca)	8.5-10.5 mg/dl	Same	Low - not taking phosphate binders, eating too much high phosphorus foods. Calcium will go down if phosphorus goes up.
White blood cells (WBC)	5,000-10,000	Same	High - infection Low - bone marrow suppression, some drugs.
Hemoglobin Hematocrit Hgb & Hct	Hgb 12.0-18.0 Hct 36-45%	Will be lower - varies with individual	Decreased production of red blood cells, blood loss with dialysis, shortened life span of the red cells.
Digitalis level	0.8-2.0 mg/dl	Same	High or low - not taking drugs as prescribed, interference from other drugs, laxative abuse, inadequate control of blood sugar levels in the diabetic, dietary indiscretion especially with potassium.

If I’m a dialysis patient elsewhere and I’m traveling to the Sayre or Towanda areas, can I receive dialysis at Guthrie temporarily?

Dialysis patients who are traveling or on vacation are welcome to receive dialysis services at either Guthrie location -- the Paul Gerry Dialysis Center at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA, or at a satellite location at 603 Williams Street in Towanda, PA. The Sayre center can be reached by phone at 1-800-880-4431 and by fax at (570) 882-5879. The Towanda location can be reached by phone at (570) 265-2209 and by fax at (570) 268-0197. Click here for Robert Packer Hospital's transient dialysis form.